Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-04-30
Care of the Skin.

Another of the series Of popular lee
lures to nurses was delivered recently
in the University hospital by Dr.
Henry w. Stellwagon, the subject be-
ing 1.-The Care of the skin" The de-
livery of the lecture occupied an hour,
and the greater part of that time was
devoted to an explanation OF the re-
spective functions of the epidermls,
dermis, papillary, layers, and subcu-
taneous nerves and tissues. The cor
relative relations and specific action of
each were illustrated by diagram,
and notes of the lecture were taken by
the nurses who attended and by many
others in an audience composed al
most exclusively of ladies. The second
head of the lecture dwelt with the
proper care of the skin; and in this
connection the lecturer said:
1.-THE condition of the skin depends
to a great extent on the way we live.
If we go to bed at 2 o'clock in the
morning and eat late suppers the sys-
tenn is affected and diseased skin is
the result. We should also be careful
of our food and eat only that which is
not preiudicial to the action and func-
tions of the component parts OF the
skin. Some people can not eat she'll
fish without inducing what are known
as hives, and in other cases some kinds
of animal food will react injuriously
in this respect also. Bathing is an
essential feature in the proper treat
ment of the skin. The human body
exhales by perspiration from two to
three pints daily, and this, together
with the dust that settles upon the skin
is calculated to have an injurious eff
feet by stopping up the pores. We
have several kinds of baths, among
which are the sponge, the tub, the
hot air, and the Vapor. Taking it for
granted, as we must, that bathing pro-
notes healthy and invigorated ac-
ton of the skin, the question arises:
How often is it necessary to battle?
This depends both on the Individual
and the nature of the bath. Some peO-
pie, who perspire freely, find it neces-
sary to battle daily, others require a
bath only three or four times a
week. Taken indiscriminately, the
Turkish and Russian baths are unsafe
and may in certain conditions be posi-
lively dangerous. In cases of heart
disease, tendency to apoplexly or
CONGESTION of the brain Russian or
Turkish baths are exceedingly unsafe,
and as a general rule it may be stated
. that this class of bath should never be
indulged in without the advice of a
i. physician. The tub bath suits most
of us, but the temperature in every
case should be high enough to prevent
chills, and this remark applies also to
sponge baths, which are the safest
and may, with advantage, be taker
: every day.
: Another question of Importance il
that of soap. There are several essen
tials to good soap, one of which il
! that it have sufficient alkali and an
: other that it be made of the purest fat
If there be an excess Of alkali the eff
;; feet on the skin must be injurious by
causing an irritation Of the cuticle
One good soap is the old white CASTLE
and to this the transparent Englisl
soap is said by some eminent authori
! ties to rank next. A general principl,
! may be applied with advantage in thi
7 matter of soap, and that is to avoit
purchasing cheap article. Do no
buy cheap soap, for the chances ar
g YOU will get bad one, while if, on tn
; J other hand, you purchase an expen
sive soap, you may reasonably expec
: that it will be good. "-PhStadetphs'
. Times.